Pine Valley Golf Club banned women from playing, owning houses: NJ AG

Pine Valley is routinely rated as one of many high programs nationwide.
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Girls snagging a tee time at New Jersey’s Pine Valley Golf Membership, which solely began admitting feminine members final yr, remains to be a severe lengthy shot, state authorities mentioned.

New Jersey Performing Legal professional Common Matthew Platkin filed an 8-page civil rights criticism Wednesday towards the enduring South Jersey course, alleging a “sample of gender-based discrimination” on the male-dominated, 108-year-old membership.

Platkin alleges Pine Valley, routinely rated as one of many high programs nationwide, banned girls from changing into members or enjoying the course with “extraordinarily slim exceptions,” or accessing its services.

The membership additionally barred girls from proudly owning one of many 19 houses all through the course except they did so with a person, Platkin mentioned.

“Gender-based discrimination has no place in New Jersey, interval,” Platkin mentioned. “Our Division on Civil Rights is dedicated to rooting out illegal discrimination and holding accountable those that violate our legal guidelines.”

Pine Valley claimed it lifted all restrictions on membership and use of services based mostly on intercourse or gender final spring when Platkin’s workplace began the investigation, he mentioned.

However as of final July, solely three girls had been amongst its 700-plus members – or lower than 0.5% of general gamers, Platkin mentioned.

As well as, the membership’s longstanding coverage of men-only memberships disqualified girls from being eligible to personal or lease the non-public houses on its land. Pine Valley has additionally mentioned it now not plans to enter into any new leases of its property, successfully stopping girls from shopping for the houses, Plakin mentioned.

Girls are additionally discriminated towards on the subject of hiring practices at Pine Valley, the place its workers are “overwhelmingly” males. As of July 2020, the membership had simply six feminine staff – or lower than 4% of workers, in line with the criticism.

The membership additionally barred girls from proudly owning one of many 19 houses all through the course except they did so with a person.

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“Primarily based on their job titles, the six girls seem like in positions which have little contact with membership members,” the criticism states, together with a bookkeeper, two dishwashers and laundry staff.

A message in search of remark from Pine Valley Golf Membership’s common supervisor was not instantly returned early Thursday.